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Mothers…. a day of celebrating all those we call MUM

I have always had mixed feeling about these day’s – mothers day, fathers day, – why do we need one day to celebrate our Mothers or Fathers? Should we not do it every day… and then I thought about it and realised I was wrong. If we set aside a day then we can really step back and focus on paying attention to, being appreciative of our Mums and what pay tribute to what it means to be a Mum, then thats a good thing!

So I thought I would put together a wee blog on some mum’s I met this past year on a photography assignment I went on for USAID to South Africa, Lesotho and Uganda. During my time in the field documenting their Orphans and vulnerable children’s programs I met some amazing loving Mum’s working hard to provide education, shelter and a safe home for their children. What more does a child need?

Mothers born in tough circumstances working so hard to provide a great life for their children. They were all amazing women and mums.

Proud mother

A happy mother & her young daughter stand in the doorway of their home in a rural village in Uganda. She has worked incredibly hard to support her family. The initial support they have received has increased their knowledge and ability to farm and sustain themselves for the future.

Love is happiness

A mothers LOVE ! Is there anything stronger? A mother and her son share a moment at a fun nutritional session for mothers called ‘Mama Zama’. The groups works with parents teaching them ECD skills such how to stimulate their children more through play, South Africa

Mothers love

A mother shares a moment with her baby at a parenting educational session with parents at a clinic in Mbarara, Uganda

Keeping kids healthy

At a clinic in rural Uganda a mother has her son checked for malaria after he had a fever and lost his appetite. She was very conscious of his health, as he had been so sick as a young baby the doctor informed me, so was regularly bringing him to he clinic for check ups.

New uniform for school

A mother working at a local sewing project in Lesotho looks for a school uniforms for her daughter. Mother’s know the importance of keeping their daughters in school.

New arrival

I arrived at this rural clinic in Uganda just an hour after this mother had given birth. She looked incredible and was beaming with pride to show me her son. I was amazed that she had gone into labour and walked herself to the clinic and gave birth not long after arriving – a super mum.

Memories

The connection between this mother and her daughter was beautiful as they looked through photos and shared memories of both their childhoods, South Africa.

Copying how mum does it

She told me “this is my baby” and she was doing what her mum does and taking great care of her baby, Uganda.

Good news

A mother living positively finds out the great news that her baby is healthy in a counselling session in a clinic in Uganda.

Securing the future

A mother and her daughter attend a local meeting on issuing birth certificates and will writing in her village. Ensuring that families have all of their legal documents, such as wills and birth certificates, prepared is information local paralegal officers deliver to remote villages. This ensures that parents understand the need for and importance of this for securing their children’s future.

Born to be a mum – superhero!

I was in nothing but awe of this mother as she told me the story of how she became mother to Josephine. She had heard cries from a latrine as she was returning home one day with her children. With no way to see down into the deep pit she ran to the local market and convinced them to give her a torch so she could see the baby inside. Through a series of huge obstacles she managed to get the concrete slab removed and have someone climb down into the latrine to retrieve the, only days old, baby who was bloated and covered in waste. There have been many challenges along the way but this mother is nothing but loving and proud of her healthy bright young 4 year old girl.

And to the Mothers whose girls are missing today in Nigeria & so many other places they are trafficked from my thoughts are with you #BringBackOurGirls